Paint Codes

From what I've read, paint codes seem to be non-existent on this forum. It actually surprises me that no one has collected them...maybe a job for me once I rebuild enough bikes with different color schemes.

For the mean time, I am wondering if anyone might have a paint code for the black and gold scheme. My interstate has what I think is the most common pain option of all commandos? Black with gold decals and pinstripe. Particularily the black. Does anyone have a code for the black that Norton used back in the day?

Thanks,
Matt

I had my original signal red side cover (fiberglas) from '72 matched at a local paint shop.
PPG Concept LV code CLV75395ALT H in acrylic urethane. Not really a good match though...a bit more orange than original.

illf8ed said:

I had my original signal red side cover (fiberglas) from '72 matched at a local paint shop.
PPG Concept LV code CLV75395ALT H in acrylic urethane. Not really a good match though...a bit more orange than original.

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David

Can you post a picture of yours.
I tried for a Signal Red for my 72 bike but by eye from photos.
It is a bit orange.

Bob

Don't rely on photos for color match, but I've stacked the original fiberglass signal red tank on top the steel tank I painted with the reference PPG code. Think you can see the difference.

illf8ed said:

Don't rely on photos for color match, but I've stacked the original fiberglass signal red tank on top the steel tank I painted with the reference PPG code. Think you can see the difference.

Click to expand...

For what it is worth and for anyone interested, here is the code I used for my new used tank and covers. I was dead on.

mattthomas4444 said:

It actually surprises me that no one has collected them...maybe a job for me once I rebuild enough bikes with different color schemes.
Thanks,
Matt

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About 10 years ago, I tried to do just that. I also tried to elicit reference photos of original bikes from owners. Not much came from it, and I've let it slip over the years. The only guy I know who has some of the original swatches for early Commando colors was in Atlanta. AFAIK he still holds on to them for reference.

Good luck if you can get it going.

RSR

Good question, I was wondering the same thing. It's a while in the future but I've been thinking of paint colors.

I doubt if there were any paint codes for the F/G FirelFlake gel coats either. How can you reproduce that except by trial and experience? Still, I think no paint is going to look like the gel coat, I may be wrong, again. This is what the blue looked like under the rubber grommets on the side panel where it had not been exposed to the light.



Dave
69S

pvisseriii said:

illf8ed said:

Don't rely on photos for color match, but I've stacked the original fiberglass signal red tank on top the steel tank I painted with the reference PPG code. Think you can see the difference.

For what it is worth and for anyone interested, here is the code I used for my new used tank and covers. I was dead on.

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Your VIN is 2108xx...was this originally a steel tank this VW color matches or fiberglass? DogT is correct that the gel coat colors in the glass tanks are hard to match and are a bit different from the steel tank colors. Eventually I'm going to do another steel tank and steel side covers. May just find a nice red and not worry about matching the gel coat color.

illf8ed said:

pvisseriii said:

illf8ed said:

Don't rely on photos for color match, but I've stacked the original fiberglass signal red tank on top the steel tank I painted with the reference PPG code. Think you can see the difference.

For what it is worth and for anyone interested, here is the code I used for my new used tank and covers. I was dead on.


Your VIN is 2108xx...was this originally a steel tank this VW color matches or fiberglass? DogT is correct that the gel coat colors in the glass tanks are hard to match and are a bit different from the steel tank colors. Eventually I'm going to do another steel tank and steel side covers. May just find a nice red and not worry about matching the gel coat color.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

You know, I should probably take that number off the signature. Nothing is original on my bike and this is simply the number on the current crankcase, it was 200xxx. 149xxx on frame(titled under) and 235xxx on gearbox. That paint code is just what the painter matched up from the fiberglass tank to paint the steel one. Just thought it might be a short cut for someone needing a red.

As far as gel coats go, probably all one can do is match as best as possible. I'm not trying to get in between any arguments here. It's interesting though with the FireFlake colours, at least with the blue there was a lot of black fleck in it for a base, the blue was predominant as a flake next and the silver was on top of the blue which gave it the shimmer. All the colours seemed in suspension with a thick clear coat (gel). Some of the reproduction Fireflake Blue I've seen has gold in it which I don't like.

Dave
69S

Black & gold...

I painted my buddy's 72 Interstate with R-M Diamont "very black" (yes, that's the name of the color) and gold metalic. R-M is a BASF company.

I went from Signal Yellow to Signal Orange - also a factory color - on my '72 back in 2007. I saw what I thought was a close match on the CNW site. Matt gave me the following info:

Both the Custom #024 and #033 were painted with the same color.
Dupont Chroma base # 31K. It's a 1980 GM (original GM code # 88 WAEM).

I've since gone to a steel tank and had a local shop match it. He came pretty close. I had a friend at the Norton Rally hold his original Signal Orange gelcoat tank against it and we thought it was an excellent match. He is pretty picky about originality.

Here's my bike from last summer. Now has a size smaller rear tire and no more steering damper.


Orange is a funny color because the lighting can affect it so much. Having a paint code is no guarantee of anything. Even when new there was quite a bit of variance in the factory colors.

If I had another bike to do I'd pick that newish Corvette coppery metalflake color.

Russ

I see original Norton rattle can paint on Ebay from time to time. I wonder if somebody gifted could figure out how to match it. For all I know it might have paint codes printed on the cans.

I have been paying a lot of attention to cars I see lately. Looking at colors and how the paint looks in different lights. I asked a woman today at the service station what year her car was, she looked at me like I was a stalker, so I told her I wanted the paint code for a project I am doing and I nearly got maced! Apparently I don't even know my own culture any longer. Is it improper to ask a single woman for her paint code?

Russ

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Norton-C ... 3f0dfebebe

In Alaska, who knows !!
Neat spraycan collection...

On the paint codes, does anyone have the color sheets that came with each years Norton brochure - it mentions for color choices to refer to the separate color page supplied.

Ebay sometimes has a page of color patches, although they look rather crude.
I saved the 1971 page - somewhere...